Page 30 of Madness of Her Mages

Aurora puffed up her chest and flashed her sharp canines. “We’re not afraid of bears,” she called as Malvolia walked away.

Malvolia stopped and spun around, nearly slamming headfirst into her lover. With a growl, she shoved him aside and marched up to Aurora. “You should be,” she said on a snarl as she knelt beside the girls. “They love to eat little children. They hold you down with their heavy paws and feast on your insides, ripping out your guts while you’re still alive.” She let out a growl, raking at the air as if her hands were claws. “Then the crows pluck out your eyes and bite off your tongues so you can’t scream for help.”

The girls turned from Malvolia, burying their faces in my skirts while shaking my legs with their tremors.

Malvolia laughed. I glared at her retreating back as she marched down the incline toward the area where they were erecting a large crimson tent surrounded by several smaller ones.

Wow. What a bitch.

Is it my aunt’s intention to get the children to hate her?I projected to my mates.If so, she’s doing a magnificent job.

Sorry,Drae said as he gave me an apologetic look.

I wanted to ask him what he was sorry for. For the way his queen had scared my nieces? Or maybe for expecting me to serve such a cold bitch? I knew it was wrong to blame him, though. It’s not like any of us had a choice.

“We don’t like it here, Auntie,” Aurora said while blinking up at me with watery eyes.

“We want to go back to Abyssus,” Ember cried, a tear streaking down her cheek.

I knelt beside them, drying their eyes. “I know, darlings, but we have to stay together.”

Nikkos knelt beside us, gently patting their heads. “We won’t let anything happen to you, so long as you stay with us,” he warned, giving Aurora a stern look. “And don’t teleport anywhere without permission, unless it’s an emergency and you need to save yourself and your sister.”

Aurora nodded. “We won’t, Uncle.”

“Come on,” Nikkos said, nodding toward a copse of trees further behind the tents. “There’s a pretty stream nearby and usually bushels of fresh berries.”

“But the bears,” Ember protested.

Drae hovered over us, his massive wings blocking out rays from the setting sun that pierced our eyes. “We won’t let them get you.” He placed a palm over his heart. “Promise.”

Ember held her hands up to Drae, and he swept her into his arms, kissing her cheek. Then he took Aurora in his arms, too, balancing her on his other hip. I couldn’t help but smile. As if I couldn’t love him more. I gave a start, suddenly realizing that I loved him and hadn’t told him yet. I’d have to rectify that as soon as we were alone.

I walked beside Drae, the tip of his wing protectively wrapped around my shoulder while his brothers flanked us. Soldiers ignored us while setting up tents and building campfires. Witches in various colored capes prepared kettles of water and shook out blankets before disappearing back into the tents. One thing that struck me was that everyone looked to be no older than thirty years. Malvolia appeared to be the oldest Fae among us. I wondered why there were no older people in my aunt’s army. Had they all perished during Thorin’s purge?

“We don’t like Aunt Malvolia,” Aurora whispered to me after we’d passed the tents.

“She’s not nice like Yaya,” Ember added.

“She’ll take some getting used to.” I forced a smile, trying to appear optimistic, though I had serious doubts. “I’m sorry, girls.”

Your aunt could probably work on softening her edges,Blaze said through thought, his voice echoing so I knew he was projecting to all of us.

If that isn’t an understatement,I answered, unable to keep the bitterness from my voice. And to think, my mates had practically worshipped this woman. I wondered what they thought of her now.

I think her intentions were good,Drae added, though I could feel the undercurrent of doubt in his voice, for I couldn’t help the sickening feeling that she was taking out her hatred of my mother and Tari on the girls.

At least the girls won’t wander from camp now,Nikkos added.

I let out an unladylike snort.Or sleep without having nightmares.

SUPPER WAS A DELICIOUSstew of wild game, root vegetables, and herbs prepared by Malvolia’s personal chef who I learned followed her everywhere. According to Drae, the entourage of fire mages and witches that had accompanied us were also Malvolia’s personal army. I’d learned more about the handful of witches that had accompanied us. Two wore gray cloaks, one a blue, and the other a green, which indicated their special brand of magic. The witches in gray had mind powers, visions that came to them, though they weren’t always predictable, the one in blue had air magic, which she used to blow the fire’s smoke out of our camp, and the witch in green was a healer like Tari, though her magic wasn’t as strong as my sister’s. The witches told me they were part of Malvolia’s personal army, but not in her coven. I wasn’t sure the difference, but assumed I’d find out soon enough.

I sat beside Malvolia on a low log in front of the fire. The girls sat between Nikkos and me. Drae sat on Malvolia’s other side, and Blaze sat beside him, though it felt like there was a world between us, considering I had to look past my aunt’s stony gaze to see them. The rest of Malvolia’s entourage sat on nearby logs circling us, stealing furtive glances in my direction.

I had to nudge the girls and remind them to eat while they picked at their food, their mouths turned down.

“The girls are displeased,” my aunt said to me.

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